𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘, ᵁᴺᴰᴱᴿᴳᴿᴼᵁᴺᴰ ᴿᴬᴾᴾᴱᴿˢ & ᴿᴬᴾᴾᴱᴿˢ

CRUSH, 003

IN WHICH... HIS PRODUCER HAS A CRUSH ON  HIM.

THE STUDIO WAS DIM, THE ONLY LIGHT COMING FROM THE CONTROL BOARDS VARIOUS LEDs AND THE OCCASIONAL FLICKER OF A LIGHER.

Y/N leaned back in her chair, headphones hanging loosely around her neck as she took another drag from her blunt. She exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl toward the ceiling. Autumn was supposed to be here an hour ago, but punctuality wasn't exactly his strong suit. She checked her phone, huffing when she saw the time.

"Fuckin' typical," she muttered, shaking her head. Just as she was about to give up and pack up for the night, the door swung open, and there he was, strolling in like he owned the place. Autumn was tall, with dark, soulful eyes and an aura that drew everyone in. He was a mess of contradictions—hard and soft, rough around the edges.

"Yo, ma," he greeted, flashing that signature half-smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Sorry I'm late. You know how it is."

Y/N rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, yeah. Just get your ass in the booth. We got work to do."

Autumn chuckled, the sound deep and resonant. He dropped his bag on the couch and grabbed the joint from her fingers, taking a hit before handing it back. "You tryna burn the whole place down without me?"

"Nah, just tryna get in the mood," she replied, turning back to the soundboard. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting to the way he looked tonight— neatly re-twisted dreads, grills that sparkled when he smiled, and that damn charm. She'd had a crush on him for months, but she'd be damned if she let him know. Business first, feelings later.

Autumn stepped into the booth, adjusting the mic to his height. "You ready, Y/N?"

"Yeah, let's run it from the top. I tweaked the beat a bit, added some of that bass you like."

He nodded, putting on his headphones and closing his eyes, letting the music wash over him. As the beat dropped, his flow was smooth and effortless. Y/N couldn't help but admire his skill—he had a way with words that was almost hypnotic.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Minutes turned into hours, and they finally wrapped up the session. Autumn emerged from the booth, wiping sweat from his brow. "Damn, Y/N, you really outdid yourself with this one."

Y/N smiled, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "Just tryna keep up with you."

They both laughed, the tension in the room easing a bit. Autumn plopped down on the couch, pulling her down beside him. "You know, I couldn't do this shit without you. You're like... my muse or some shit."

Y/N's heart raced, the compliment catching her off guard. "Don't be tryna butter me up now," she teased, nudging him playfully.

"Nah, I'm serious," he said, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "You got this way of makin' everything better, you know? Like, I can't explain it."

Before she could respond, he leaned in, his eyes locked on hers. She felt the air shift, the world narrowing down to just the two of them. Her breath hitched as he closed the distance, their lips meeting in a slow, deliberate kiss. It was messy, all over the place, but full of unspoken emotions.

She tasted the lingering smoke on his lips, his hands tangling in her hair as the kiss deepened. Y/N's mind went blank, lost in the sensation. She pulled him closer, needing to feel him, to know this wasn't some hazy daydream.

Autumn groaned, the sound vibrating through her, making her shiver. He pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "Fuck, ma... I didn't mean for this to happen like this, but I can't stop thinking about you."

She smiled, her fingers tracing his jawline. "Took you long enough," she whispered, capturing his lips again. The kiss grew more urgent, hands wandering, breaths mingling. The world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the connection between them.

They broke apart, breathless and flushed. Autumn cupped her face, his eyes searching hers. "This changes everything, ma."

"Yeah," she agreed, a smile playing on her lips. "But maybe it's about time it did."

They sat there, wrapped up in each other, the night stretching on. For once, the music was silent, but their unspoken frequencies filled the room, setting the stage for a new rhythm in their lives.